November 18, 2015
When Cyclone Pam destroyed their village in Vanuatu in March, 2015, Frank and his family had no choice but to live outdoors.
There was no power, so many of the newly homeless villagers resorted to using open fires, creating hazards for youngsters like Frank.
In addition to the hardship of being hit by the most intense cyclone in the southern hemisphere this year, Frank had a fall and landed in a fire, badly burning his hands.
As time went on, contractures caused his left wrist to flex permanently, meaning he was unable to use his hand or even straighten his arm.
In November this year, an Interplast team travelled to Vanuatu. On it was first-time volunteer Dr Frank Lin.
The two Franks – patient and surgeon – formed an instant bond, perhaps thanks to their shared name, or perhaps thanks to ‘little’ Frank’s big bright smile.
“He was just such a great kid,” says Dr Lin.
“He was really open and friendly. He was smiling and chatting with the anaesthetist and playing with him,” he adds.
“I think his life would have been very difficult because both his hands were burnt and the more severely-affected left wrist was flexed at 90 degrees,” Dr Lin recalls.
“That had rendered the limb practically useless because he couldn’t extend his arm or even hold anything.”
“I never met his mother but his father accompanied him the entire way. They had travelled for days to get to Port Vila for the surgery.”
Dr Lin operated on Frank to release the contractures and put him on the path to regaining the use of his left hand.
